Primary Sources are documents, letters, manuscripts, official records, speeches, video and audio recordings, films or photographs that were created during the during the specific time under study.
The Importance of Primary Sources
Primary sources are often times the only record of what occurred from the past. Human memory can provide us with first hand testimony, but the actual artifacts provide us with an opportunity to carefully examine those materials in an unbiased manner. They provide us with a picture and an understanding of what really happened during those times.
How to Use Primary Sources
The first step, of course, is finding the primary sources. Think about any individual, group or organization that would have had a connection with your topic. Often times these people or institutions have created archival collections and have digitized them for access by the public. Libraries and their websites are excellent starting points. Once located, it is important to validate its authenticity, who created the document,and what was the creator's purpose.
Questions to ask: 1. What is the material? 2. Who created this primary source? 3. When was it created? 4. Why was it created? 5. What message does the source convey? 6. Are there other primary source materials related to it? 7. Why is the source important?
What are Primary Sources?
Primary Sources are documents, letters, manuscripts, official records, speeches, video and audio recordings, films or photographs thatwere created during the during the specific time under study.
The Importance of Primary Sources
Primary sources are often times the only record of what occurred from the past. Human memory can provide us with first hand testimony, but theactual artifacts provide us with an opportunity to carefully examine those materials in an unbiased manner. They provide us with a picture and an
understanding of what really happened during those times.
How to Use Primary Sources
The first step, of course, is finding the primary sources. Think about any individual, group or organization that would have had a connection with your topic.Often times these people or institutions have created archival collections and have digitized them for access by the public. Libraries and their websites
are excellent starting points. Once located, it is important to validate its authenticity, who created the document,and what was the creator's purpose.
Questions to ask:
1. What is the material?
2. Who created this primary source?
3. When was it created?
4. Why was it created?
5. What message does the source convey?
6. Are there other primary source materials related to it?
7. Why is the source important?
To take a step-by-step walk through how to use primary sources visit:
The Primary Source Village
Other issues of working with Primary Sources can be explored at the following Library of Congress site:
Working with Primary Sources
Worksheets for Analyzing Primary Sources
Teacher's Guide and Analysis ToolAnalyzing Photographs
Photograph Analysis WorksheetViewing Photographs
Photo Analysis Guide
Primary Source Images
Public Domain ImagesThe National Archives Digital Vaults
World Digital Library
Library of Congress - Digital Collection
Time & Life Pictures
Heinz History Center Photography Collection
Smithsonian: Resources for Teaching American History
Ad*Access
Emergence of Advertising in America
DocsTeach Resources
The National Archives Teacher Resources
Duke University Digital Collections
NASA Images
Picturing America
The History Place - Dorthea Lange